Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has  announced plans to establish a special court to fast-track the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism cases, as part of renewed efforts to tackle rising insecurity in the state. Okpebholo disclosed this at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City during the parade of suspected kidnappers and other criminal suspects arrested in recent operations. He said the proposed court would ensure speedy trials, stressing that cases involving kidnapping and cult-related offences would be concluded within weeks. “We are going to set up a special court to try suspected kidnappers and cultists. Within…

Retired military officers have called for sweeping reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture following the death of a former Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), who died after being abducted by bandits in Katsina State. The demand was made on Thursday at a press conference in Kaduna, where a coalition of retired senior officers described the incident as a grim reflection of the worsening insecurity across the country. Speaking on behalf of the group, Brigadier General Isma’ila Abdullahi (retd.) said the killing of the late general underscored systemic failures in safeguarding lives and property. “Our colleague, friend…

United States President, Donald Trump, has said the airstrike on a school in Iran that reportedly killed over 160 children during the early phase of “Operation Epic Fury” was not deliberate, insisting that the incident is under investigation. Trump made his first public remarks on the tragedy while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, where he came under renewed pressure over rising civilian casualties linked to the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. The strike, which occurred in the southern Iranian city of Minab, has triggered widespread international condemnation, with human rights groups and anti-war organisations demanding an independent probe…

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has disclosed that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is grappling with what he described as “extremely difficult” bail conditions in his ongoing fraud trial. El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure between 2015 and 2023. The anti-graft agency had, on April 13, arraigned the former governor before a Kaduna State High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office. Speaking with journalists after a public…

The Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Akeem Akintayo Amosun, has commended the selection of Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Balogun as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Amosun described the choice as a “strategic and well-considered decision,” noting that Balogun’s emergence reflects the party’s commitment to competence and merit. In a statement issued through his media aide on Thursday, the RMAFC commissioner said Balogun’s extensive experience in the private sector, particularly in financial management and security administration, would strengthen the governorship bid of Senator Solomon…

Fawaz Adebisi The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Aro Branch, has organized a health seminar and conducted free medical tests for about 200 participants as part of efforts to promote healthy living and preventive healthcare among health workers. The event, themed “Your Health, Your Priority,” was held on Wednesday at Conference Hall 1 of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. Participants underwent free fasting blood sugar, Hepatitis B, and blood pressure tests before the commencement of lectures focused on healthy lifestyles and emergency health awareness. Speaking during the opening session, the Branch Chairman of MHWUN Aro Branch, Comrade…

…23bn Spent On Palm Oil Despite Local Production Strength …. Sunshades, Shoes, Umbrellas Gulp ₦20.4bn In Three Months Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s dependence on foreign goods has taken a new turn, with fresh trade data revealing that the country spent about ₦43 billion on umbrellas, sunshades, footwear, headgear, whips and crude palm oil imports within the first quarter of 2026, despite its vast agro-industrial potential and repeated policy drives for local substitution. Figures obtained from the Foreign Trade Statistics for Q1 2026 released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the import bill cuts across consumer goods and agricultural commodities,…

A police inspector attached to the Kogi State Government House security detail in Lokoja has lost an assault rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition after suspected thieves stole his vehicle and made away with the weapon in a brazen overnight incident. The affected officer, identified as Inspector Mohammed Abdullahi, was said to have parked his Toyota Camry with registration number ZKW 650AA (Kaduna State) at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat in Lokoja on the evening of June 13, 2026. Security sources said the inspector reportedly left a police rifle with breech number FA 4082, along…

A Magistrate Court sitting in Kano State has sentenced a 35-year-old man, Mohammed Saidu, to 14 days’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of N100,000 for storing dozens of bags of human faeces outside his residence, a practice that triggered a public health scare and widespread outrage among residents. The court also ordered Saidu to immediately evacuate all the waste from the premises and warned him against any future conduct capable of endangering public health. Saidu was arraigned following complaints lodged by residents of his neighbourhood, who reported persistent foul odour and environmental degradation emanating from his property. Environmental health authorities…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has struck out an appeal filed by the National Broadcasting Commission (National Broadcasting Commission), effectively affirming a Federal High Court judgment that barred the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations. The appellate court held that the appeal was incompetent and fundamentally defective, describing the Notice of Appeal as one that failed to invoke the court’s jurisdiction. With the ruling, the Media Rights Agenda (Media Rights Agenda) secured another legal victory against the broadcast regulator in a long-running dispute over the legality of administrative sanctions imposed on media organisations. Delivering the lead judgment,…